"The Blade Itself" The Importance of Character Development **Possible Spoilers**

[Cindy]

Whenever I see this trilogy and books discussed people always say "This would have been a boring series if not for the great character development".

With that said I think it's a great time to discuss what makes great character development and what doesn't.

What worked for you in this series? Did you feel as if you were in the head of the characters? Do you think that the series would have just been an "average" series without the in-depth character development?

Also, what sets a book apart as great character development for you? Are there specific elements that the author(s) must develop in order to make you feel as if you truly know a character?

[Kara]

Without the characters, who they are and were they went... this story would be mediocre.

(I read these last year, and am not quite sure where book one ends right now, so I'm honestly not sure how much development we see in the characters at this point.)

I did often feel inside the head of the characters... and I often "felt" for these characters, and understood where they were coming from or their basis for their actions, EVEN when I didn't like them as a character, agree with or care for their actions.

All the characters grow in this book, but for me the one to watch, love, and hate, over the series was Jezal dan Luther.

Gosh, as I write, I am glad I own the series... look forward to a re-read in later years. =)

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I will say that I do felt like I knew what made the characters tick - though I would also say it would be hard not to know such things since we get their internal thoughts often enough, and are almost lead by the nose by it where some subtext or mystery might've been nice.

But, erm...

I liked some of the character types of the first book - particularly Glokta - but I didn't feel like they had much growth in this book. Mostly this was introducing the characters and, as I said in the other thread, gathering the party together.

I've been told that a lot of the development comes in the next book, so I guess I'll have to read it at some point to see what comes of it.

[Cindy]

One of the things that I really like is when an author takes writers into the characters. I tend to like books that are taken from that standpoint as opposed to describing them and telling me about them. I just don't feel that closeness to the characters.

[colleen the convivial curmudgeon]

I agree. I do like when we see into the characters thoughts and feelings from the characters' own perspectives.

I did feel, in this particular instance, that we could've been left with some subtext or mystery... and that the thoughts were a bit repetitive in nature...

But, in general, I agree that I really like to be "inside" a character or group of characters.

[Colin]

There is some great characters in this story, certainly colourful ones that are well fleshed out. The development does tend to come over the trilogy more so than the individual books.

[Veronika KaoruSaionji]

I mean that development of characters is very important, basical thing for good story.
I love weak hero (or heroine) which becomes stronger, wiser, more bold. Cruel hero who becomes kinder (only male hero - I don´t like cruel heroines :o)). Or maybe divine heroes, very strong and noble and so on, which becomes more complex and vulnerable(and less strong and noble).
I hope for change by Jezal dan Luthar, Sand dan Glockta, Ferro, Dogman and (a little) by Malacus Quai and Ardee. And I hope for not change by Collem West and Bayaz.:o)